Window treatments: New curtains,shades or blinds either brighten or soften your room, while introducing new color if you choose.

New lighting: Something as simple as new lamps brightens your space and defines your style.

Dimmers and switch plates: Introduce subtle mood lighting with a dimmer switch you can install within an hour, or replace old switch plates with new ones that match your decorating style, color and themes.

Accessories: You'd be surprised what a few sparkling vases, sculptures, centerpieces, new shelving or other accessories can do to perk up a room.

Wall art: Brighten a dark room with a light sunny framed print, or add some deep warm colors to a pale one with a richly colored oil painting. Don't forget intricate tapestries for a cozy touch or mirrors for a feeling of light and space.

Area rugs: These rugs add color, texture and definition to a room in addition to covering up worn flooring.

Peel and stick flooring: In a few hours, you can install a brand new floor right on top of your existing one.

Paint or refinish a door: Make any exterior or interior door look brand new again. Take this a step further by installing new doorknobs or handles.

Rent a carpet steamer: You may discover that your carpet becomes a completely new color after you steam-clean it.

Closet storage systems: These systems beautify your closets as well as your living space by giving you a convenient place to store what would otherwise become clutter.

Rearrange the furniture: By just moving your existing furniture around, you'll get a new room without having to buy or install a thing.

Starting at the Top

Even though most people don't focus on a room's ceiling, fixing up this area really improves the appearance of any room. These ceiling improvements can all be completed in a day:

Changing the lighting fixtures

Installing a ceiling fan

Adding a ceiling medallion.

Dramatic Living Room and Family Room Makeovers

A huge percentage of peaceful family time and fun visits with friends takes place in the living room or family room. Fixing up these well-used areas has a big impact on the whole house. Try these easy ideas for a fresh new space to socialize:

Dress up your seating: Fitted slipcovers for sofas and upholstered chairs bring new colors, patterns and textures to your seating.

Sprinkle some throw pillows: Accent pillows add little splashes of color for a more subtle change. Because these pillows are small, dramatic touches such as sequins, beads or shiny metallic fabrics won't overwhelm your room.

Refinish or paint wooden furniture: Give your old wooden furniture a facelift or an entirely new look with paint or varnish. For a cozy cottage look, stencil on a pattern of hearts and flowers.

Cover your tables: If you're looking for an instant furniture change, consider tablecloths for your coffee and end table. You don't have to stick to traditional tablecloths; tapestries, throws and even small hand-knit blankets dress up accent tables beautifully.

A New Look for Your Bathroom

Your bathroom offers lots of opportunities for quick and easy improvements. Here are just a few:

Install a new showerhead and faucets.

Replace your shower curtain and bathmat.

Hang pretty new towels and washcloths.

Replace your toilet seat bath.

Add new bathroom accessories such as a toothbrush holder, garbage pail, bathroom-cup, rug, and soap dish.

Easy Bedroom Updates

Your bedroom can also become a serene new sanctuary within a day. Just introducing new bedding and decorative pillows transforms a bedroom instantly. Adding an electric fireplace adds warmth and atmosphere. You may also want to try some of these easy changes:

Install a new headboard.

Refinish your furniture.

Display fresh flowers.

For a child's bedroom, some bright wall decals or favorite music/movie posters create a fun, new look.

Upgrading Your Kitchen

When thinking about kitchen upgrades, long-term, expensive projects usually come to mind. This doesn't have to be the case, however. Freshen up your kitchen by:

Installing new cabinet and drawer pulls or knobs

Adding colorful new face panels for major kitchen appliances

Refinishing or painting of cabinets

Installing ceramic tile over countertops

Covering a countertop in decorative contact paper

Replacing old small appliances

Adding new chair pads and tablecloths

Introducing attractive new dishes.

Last Updated: December 21, 2011

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About
Roberta Pescow
Roberta Pescow holds a bachelor's degree in communications from City University of New York, Queens College and is a freelance writer and editor in the NJ area. The author of "A Life In The Service" and "A Monster's Tears," she enjoys writing informative articles, personal essays, fiction and music.
Roberta is a proud mother of two. Her other interests include fitness, photography, sculpture and meditation. She is a voracious reader and holds a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwan Do. Roberta enjoys decorating her hectic, but happy home and garden in original and affordable ways.

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